Loading…
22
That 'always get a deposit' advice saved me from a $2,500 nightmare last week
Tbh I almost skipped asking for a 50% deposit from a new client in Japan because they seemed super professional. A guy on this forum told me never to trust a first-time international client without upfront payment. Sure enough, after I sent the first batch of flooring samples and designs, they ghosted me for 11 days. I had their $1,250 deposit already in my account or I'd be eating that cost hard. Now I'm waiting on a wire from a different client in Germany and guess what? I got 50% upfront before even touching the materials. Has anyone else had to chase a foreign client after trusting their word too much?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
carr.luna4mo ago
Is it really that serious though? I mean yeah deposits are smart but people act like every single client is out to screw you. Emma_lee22 has a point about reselling the work though that part is true. I've had my share of ghosters too but I just move on and find the next gig. Get a deposit if you want but don't act like it's saving you from a life crisis. It's just a business cost, not a nightmare.
3
the_betty4mo ago
The $2,500 flooring samples story hits close to home. I had a client in Italy last year, seemed totally legit with a fancy website and everything. Asked me to design a custom tile pattern for their new restaurant, promised to wire the full payment after seeing the digital mockups. I spent three weekends on that design, sent it over, and then they stopped answering emails. Now I don't touch anything without at least half upfront, no matter how nice their email signature looks. You dodged a real bullet with that deposit policy, seriously.
-1
emma_lee224mo ago
Does that trick where they ghost you after the work is done ever get old? I swear some people treat "promised payment" like it's a currency that actually spends. At least your tile design is sitting pretty in a folder somewhere, ready to be resold to someone who actually pays.
2